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Sports Minister wants athletes to surpass 10-gold medal target

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian contingent have been challenged to go beyond the country’s 10-gold medal target at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi from Oct 3-14.
And a cool and composed flag bearer Siti Zalina Ahmad said the team were ready to stand up to the challenge.

Yesterday, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Shabery Cheek threw down the gauntlet on the athletes during a flag-handing ceremony at the centralised training camp in Palm Garden.
Shabery handed over the Malaysian flag to chef-de-mission Tan Sri Abdul Halil Abdul Mutalib and the Jalur Gemilang was then passed on to two-time Commonwealth Games lawn bowl singles gold medallist Zalina in a simple ceremony yesterday.

In a speech to fan the fire among the athletes, Shabery is hoping that the athletes would rise up to his challenge.
“We had set a 30-35 gold medal target at the SEA Games (in Laos) but our athletes did better as they won more than 40 (last year). This was due to their steely determination and their love to bring honour to the country,” said Shabery.

“The NSC (National Sports Council) have set a 10-gold medal target this time for the Commonwealth Games. It will be our best ever if we achieve this. Previously, we won 10 on our home ground in 1998.
“I hope our athletes will not doubt their own abilities but will press on against any form of adversities to bring glory to the country. I hope to see our national anthem played more than 10 times.”
Shabery predicted that the medals will come from badminton, squash, lawn bowls, weightlifting and diving but believed that there were outside chances in several other sports.

“More medals could come from weightlifting and cycling. There is a doping scandal in the Indian team and that has opened up the race for medals for others,” he said.
“Top star Chris Hoy will not be there and this has given our Azizul Hasni Awang a better chance in cycling. There is also an outside chance for us in archery.”

The 31-year-old Zalina, who was choked with emotion after being given the mandate to be Malaysia’s flag bearer, said that she believes Malaysia will surpass the target.
“In lawn bowls, we have won two gold medals, the most in the Commonwealth Games. This time, we are confident of winning four,” she said.

“I am also confident with those from other sports. They have trained hard and it is not impossible to go beyond 10.”

For the record, Malaysia will be represented by 201 athletes in 14 sports in New Delhi.


By RAJES PAUL

THE STAR

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